Commercialization Manager

Shearer's Foods; Massillon (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Shearer's Foods is seeking a Commercialization Manager in Massillon, OH, to lead product commercialization initiatives and drive cross-functional collaboration across R&D, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Plant Operations. You will shape product strategy, drive innovation, and partner with sales to bring new concepts to key customers.

The role emphasizes ownership of ROTIF launches, meeting margin targets, and delivering on-time-in-full product introductions within a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; strong technical and manufacturing knowledge.
• 5+ years in commercialization, product development, or technical project management in CPG/food manufacturing.
• Ability to manage internal and external customers and adapt to change.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Solid financial acumen with understanding of product cost and P&L management.

Responsibilities

• Customer-Facing Innovation - Partner with Sales and Commercial Development to sell in new product concepts, formulations, and packaging innovations to top tier and strategic customers.
• Roadmap Alignment - Collaborate with R&D and Commercial Excellence to prioritize innovation pipelines based on customer needs, feasibility, and business impact.
• Market Feedback Loop - Incorporate customer insights and post-launch learning into continuous product improvement and next generation innovation efforts.
• Lead cross-functional commercialization teams for new product launches and reformulations
• New Food Development - from Execution through Post-Execution
• New Packaging - From Scoping through Post-Execution
• Maintain accountability for project timelines, cost adherence, and manufacturability.
• Coordinate with commercial Development Leads and Sales to ensure launch feasibility and readiness to support customer expectations
• Part set-up and data integrity - Create and maintain part records in systems, ensuring accurate specifications for raw materials, packaging films, corrugates, and finished goods.
• Cross-functional Coordination - Work closely with R&D, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and Supply Chain to gather required data for part set-up.
• Compliance and Change Management - Execute change management processes for BOM updates, formula changes, and obsolete parts, ensuring proper approvals and documentation.
• Act as process steward for Stage Gate commercialization phases.
• Ensure gate documentation is accurate, approved, and archived within the product lifecycle system (PLM or equivalent).
• Provide KPI reporting on project status, gate adherence, and cycle time metrics.
• Collaborate with Lifecycle/Obsolescence Manager to execute transitions, reformulations, discontinuations with minimal disruption.
• Drive standardization of commercialization tools, templates, and playbooks
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of E2E commercialization processes and systems.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Change management

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations, or related field

Job description

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer's has been awarded the food industry's highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer's is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer's Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.

Commercialization Managers are the connective tissue between innovation and execution. Our role is responsible for delivering technical expertise, change management and stability to support the company's objectives of revenue, growth and profit. We act as a knowledge hub, focusing on "doing things right" - ensuring processes and projects run smoothly and meet standards. We are stewards of governance and supporting portfolio transitions, directly impacting operational excellence, customer satisfaction and the company's ability to compete and grow in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

The Commercialization Manager leads commercialization initiatives while executing the functional responsibilities associated with new product development and product assortment management across a defined sales channel and customer account portfolio. Operating within a Center of Competence, this role ensures technical accuracy, robust processes, and seamless collaboration among Commercial, R&D, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Plant Operations.

In addition to executional excellence, this position carries product management responsibilities, including shaping product strategy, driving innovation, and partnering with commercial teams to sell new concepts and capabilities to key and top-tier customers. The Commercialization Manager is accountable for delivering product launches Right-On-Time-In-Full (ROTIF), achieving margin targets, and meeting or exceeding customer expectations. Key responsibilities include:

Product Management & Customer Innovation

• Customer-Facing Innovation - Partner with Sales and Commercial Development to sell in new product concepts, formulations, and packaging innovations to top tier and strategic customers.
• Roadmap Alignment - Collaborate with R&D and Commercial Excellence to prioritize innovation pipelines based on customer needs, feasibility, and business impact.
• Market Feedback Loop - Incorporate customer insights and post-launch learning into continuous product improvement and next generation innovation efforts.

Project Ownership & Execution

• Lead cross-functional commercialization teams for new product launches and reformulations
• New Food Development - from Execution through Post-Execution
• New Packaging - From Scoping through Post-Execution
• Maintain accountability for project timelines, cost adherence, and manufacturability.
• Coordinate with commercial Development Leads and Sales to ensure launch feasibility and readiness to support customer expectations

Part Management

• Part set-up and data integrity - Create and maintain part records in systems, ensuring accurate specifications for raw materials, packaging films, corrugates, and finished goods.
• Cross-functional Coordination - Work closely with R&D, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and Supply Chain to gather required data for part set-up.
• Compliance and Change Management - Execute change management processes for BOM updates, formula changes, and obsolete parts, ensuring proper approvals and documentation.

Stage Gate & Governance

• Act as process steward for Stage Gate commercialization phases.
• Ensure gate documentation is accurate, approved, and archived within the product lifecycle system (PLM or equivalent).
• Provide KPI reporting on project status, gate adherence, and cycle time metrics.
• Collaborate with Lifecycle/Obsolescence Manager to execute transitions, reformulations, discontinuations with minimal disruption.
• Drive standardization of commercialization tools, templates, and playbooks
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of E2E commercialization processes and systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a Food Science, Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• 5 years of experience in Commercialization ,Product Development or Technical Project Management within consumer packaged goods (CPG) or food manufacturing industry
• Ability to manage both internal and external customers and to adapt and manage through change.
• Strong leadership and communication skills required.
• Strong project management skills and ability to juggle multiple projects and shifting priorities in an organized manner.
• Strong financial skills are essential to managing product cost understanding and P & L management expectations

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.